Chapter 7 The Examination
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NO
SOONER had Villefort left the salon, than he assumed the grave air of a
man who holds the balance of life and death in his hands. Now, in spite of
the mobility of his countenance, the command of which, like a finished
actor, he had carefully studied before the glass, it was by no means easy
for him to assume an air of judicial severity. Except the recollection of
the line of politics his father had adopted, and which might interfere,
unless he acted with the greatest prudence, with his own career, Gижrard de Villefort was as happy as a man could be.
Already rich, he held a high official situation, though only twenty-seven.
He was about to marry a young and charming woman, whom he loved, not
passionately, but reasonably, as became a deputy attorney of the king; and
besides her personal attractions, which were very great, Mademoiselle de
Saint-Mижran's family possessed
considerable political influence, which they would, of course, exert in
his favor. The dowry of his wife amounted to fifty thousand crowns, and he
had, besides, the prospect of seeing her fortune increased to half a
million at her father's death. These considerations naturally gave
Villefort a feeling of such complete felicity that his mind was fairly
dazzled in its contemplation. At
the door he met the commissary of police, who was waiting for him. The
sight of this officer recalled Villefort from the third heaven to earth;
he composed his face, as we have before described, and said, "I have
read the letter, sir, and you have acted rightly in arresting this man;
now inform me what you have discovered concerning him and the
conspiracy." "We
know nothing as yet of the conspiracy, monsieur; all the papers found have
been sealed up and placed on your desk. The prisoner himself is named
Edmond Dantииs, mate on board the three-master
the Pharaon, trading in cotton with Alexandria and Smyrna, and belonging
to Morrel & Son, of Marseilles." "Before
he entered the merchant service, had he ever served in the marines?" "Oh,
no, monsieur, he is very young." "How
old?" "Nineteen
or twenty at the most." At
this moment, and as Villefort had arrived at the corner of the Rue des
Conseils, a man, who seemed to have been waiting for him, approached; it
was M. Morrel. "Ah,
M. de Villefort," cried he, "I am delighted to see you. Some of
your people have committed the strangest mistake--they have just arrested
Edmond Dantииs,
mate of my vessel." "I
know it, monsieur," replied Villefort, "and I am now going to
examine him." "Oh,"
said Morrel, carried away by his friendship, "you do not know him,
and I do. He is the most estimable, the most trustworthy creature in the
world, and I will venture to say, there is not a better seaman in all the
merchant service. Oh, M. de Villefort, I beseech your indulgence for
him." Villefort,
as we have seen, belonged to the aristocratic party at Marseilles, Morrel
to the plebeian; the first was a royalist, the other suspected of
Bonapartism. Villefort looked disdainfully at Morrel, and replied,-- "You
are aware, monsieur, that a man may be estimable and trustworthy in
private life, and the best seaman in the merchant service, and yet be,
politically speaking, a great criminal. Is it not true?" The
magistrate laid emphasis on these words, as if he wished to apply them to
the owner himself, while his eyes seemed to plunge into the heart of one
who, interceding for another, had himself need of indulgence. Morrel
reddened, for his own conscience was not quite clear on politics; besides,
what Dantииs had told him of his interview
with the grand-marshal, and what the emperor had said to him, embarrassed
him. He replied, however,-- "I
entreat you, M. de Villefort, be, as you always are, kind and equitable,
and give him back to us soon." This
give us sounded revolutionary in the deputy's ears. "Ah,
ah," murmured he, "is Dantииs then a member of some Carbonari society, that his
protector thus employs the collective form? He was, if I recollect,
arrested in a tavern, in company with a great many others." Then he
added, "Monsieur, you may rest assured I shall perform my duty
impartially, and that if he be innocent you shall not have appealed to me
in vain; should he, however, be guilty, in this present epoch, impunity
would furnish a dangerous example, and I must do my duty." As
he had now arrived at the door of his own house, which adjoined the Palais
de Justice, he entered, after having, coldly saluted the shipowner, who
stood, as if petrified, on the spot where Villefort had left him. The
ante-chamber was full of police agents and gendarmes, in the midst of
whom, carefully watched, but calm and smiling, stood the prisoner.
Villefort traversed the ante-chamber, cast a side glance at Dantииs,
and taking a packet which a gendarme offered him, disappeared, saying,
"Bring in the prisoner." Rapid
as had been Villefort's glance, it had served to give him an idea of the
man he was about to interrogate. He had recognized intelligence in the
high forehead, courage in the dark eye and bent brow, and frankness in the
thick lips that showed a set of pearly teeth. Villefort's first impression
was favorable; but he had been so often warned to mistrust first impulses,
that he applied the maxim to the impression, forgetting the difference
between the two words. He stifled, therefore, the feelings of compassion
that were rising, composed his features, and sat down, grim and sombre, at
his desk. An instant after Dantииs entered. He was pale, but calm
and collected, and saluting his judge with easy politeness, looked round
for a seat, as if he had been in M. Morrel's salon. It was then that he
encountered for the first time Villefort's look,--that look peculiar to
the magistrate, who, while seeming to read the thoughts of others, betrays
nothing of his own. "Who
and what are you?" demanded Villefort, turning over a pile of papers,
containing information relative to the prisoner, that a police agent had
given to him on his entry, and that, already, in an hour's time, had
swelled to voluminous proportions, thanks to the corrupt espionage of
which "the accused" is always made the victim. "My
name is Edmond Dantииs,"
replied the young man calmly; "I am mate of the Pharaon, belonging to
Messrs. Morrel & Son." "Your
age?" continued Villefort. "Nineteen,"
returned Dantииs.
"What
were you doing at the moment you were arrested?" "I
was at the festival of my marriage, monsieur," said the young man,
his voice slightly tremulous, so great was the contrast between that happy
moment and the painful ceremony he was now undergoing; so great was the
contrast between the sombre aspect of M. de Villefort and the radiant face
of Mercижdииs. "You
were at the festival of your marriage?" said the deputy, shuddering
in spite of himself. "Yes,
monsieur; I am on the point of marrying a young girl I have been attached
to for three years." Villefort, impassive as he was, was struck with
this coincidence; and the tremulous voice of Dantииs, surprised in the midst of his happiness, struck a
sympathetic chord in his own bosom--he also was on the point of being
married, and he was summoned from his own happiness to destroy that of
another. "This philosophic reflection," thought he, "will
make a great sensation at M. de Saint-Mижran's;"
and he arranged mentally, while Dantииs awaited further questions, the antithesis by which
orators often create a reputation for eloquence. When this speech was
arranged, Villefort turned to Dantииs. "Go
on, sir," said he. "What
would you have me say?" "Give
all the information in your power." "Tell
me on which point you desire information, and I will tell all I know;
only," added he, with a smile, "I warn you I know very
little." "Have
you served under the usurper?" "I
was about to be mustered into the Royal Marines when he fell." "It
is reported your political opinions are extreme," said Villefort, who
had never heard anything of the kind, but was not sorry to make this
inquiry, as if it were an accusation. "My
political opinions!" replied Dantииs. "Alas, sir, I never had any opinions. I am
hardly nineteen; I know nothing; I have no part to play. If I obtain the
situation I desire, I shall owe it to M. Morrel. Thus all my opinions--I
will not say public, but private--are confined to these three
sentiment,--I love my father, I respect M. Morrel, and I adore Mercижdииs.
This, sir, is all I can tell you, and you see how uninteresting it
is." As Dantииs
spoke, Villefort gazed at his ingenuous and open countenance, and
recollected the words of Renижe,
who, without knowing who the culprit was, had besought his indulgence for
him. With the deputy's knowledge of crime and criminals, every word the
young man uttered convinced him more and more of his innocence. This lad,
for he was scarcely a man,--simple, natural, eloquent with that eloquence
of the heart never found when sought for; full of affection for everybody,
because he was happy, and because happiness renders even the wicked
good--extended his affection even to his judge, spite of Villefort's
severe look and stern accent. Dantииs
seemed full of kindness. "Pardieu!"
said Villefort, "he is a noble fellow. I hope I shall gain Renижe's favor easily by obeying the
first command she ever imposed on me. I shall have at least a pressure of
the hand in public, and a sweet kiss in private." Full of this idea,
Villefort's face became so joyous, that when he turned to Dantииs, the latter, who had watched
the change on his physiognomy, was smiling also. "Sir,"
said Villefort, "have you any enemies, at least, that you know."
"I
have enemies?" replied Dantииs; "my position is not sufficiently elevated
for that. As for my disposition, that is, perhaps, somewhat too hasty; but
I have striven to repress it. I have had ten or twelve sailors under me,
and if you question them, they will tell you that they love and respect
me, not as a father, for I am too young, but as an elder brother." "But
you may have excited jealousy. You are about to become captain at
nineteen--an elevated post; you are about to marry a pretty girl, who
loves you; and these two pieces of good fortune may have excited the envy
of some one." "You
are right; you know men better than I do, and what you say may possibly be
the case, I confess; but if such persons are among my acquaintances I
prefer not to know it, because then I should be forced to hate them."
"You
are wrong; you should always strive to see clearly around you. You seem a
worthy young man; I will depart from the strict line of my duty to aid you
in discovering the author of this accusation. Here is the paper; do you
know the writing?" As he spoke, Villefort drew the letter from his
pocket, and presented it to Dantииs.
Dantииs
read it. A cloud passed over his brow as he said,-- "No,
monsieur, I do not know the writing, and yet it is tolerably plain.
Whoever did it writes well. I am very fortunate," added he, looking
gratefully at Villefort, "to be examined by such a man as you; for
this envious person is a real enemy." And by the rapid glance that
the young man's eyes shot forth, Villefort saw how much energy lay hid
beneath this mildness. "Now,"
said the deputy, "answer me frankly, not as a prisoner to a judge,
but as one man to another who takes an interest in him, what truth is
there in the accusation contained in this anonymous letter?" And
Villefort threw disdainfully on his desk the letter Dantииs had just given back to him. "None
at all. I will tell you the real facts. I swear by my honor as a sailor,
by my love for Mercижdииs, by the life of my
father"-- "Speak,
monsieur," said Villefort. Then, internally, "If Renижe could see me, I hope she would
be satisfied, and would no longer call me a decapitator." "Well,
when we quitted Naples, Captain Leclere was attacked with a brain fever.
As we had no doctor on board, and he was so anxious to arrive at Elba,
that he would not touch at any other port, his disorder rose to such a
height, that at the end of the third day, feeling he was dying, he called
me to him. 'My dear Dantииs,' said he, 'swear to perform
what I am going to tell you, for it is a matter of the deepest
importance.' "'I
swear, captain,' replied I. "'Well,
as after my death the command devolves on you as mate, assume the command,
and bear up for the Island of Elba, disembark at Porto-Ferrajo, ask for
the grand-marshal, give him this letter--perhaps they will give you
another letter, and charge you with a commission. You will accomplish what
I was to have done, and derive all the honor and profit from it.' "'I
will do it, captain; but perhaps I shall not be admitted to the grand
marshal's presence as easily as you expect?' "'Here
is a ring that will obtain audience of him, and remove every difficulty,'
said the captain. At these words he gave me a ring. It was time--two hours
after he was delirious; the next day he died." "And
what did you do then?" "What
I ought to have done, and what every one would have done in my place.
Everywhere the last requests of a dying man are sacred; but with a sailor
the last requests of his superior are commands. I sailed for the Island of
Elba, where I arrived the next day; I ordered everybody to remain on
board, and went on shore alone. As I had expected, I found some difficulty
in obtaining access to the grand-marshal; but I sent the ring I had
received from the captain to him, and was instantly admitted. He
questioned me concerning Captain Leclere's death; and, as the latter had
told me, gave me a letter to carry on to a person in Paris. I undertook it
because it was what my captain had bade me do. I landed here, regulated
the affairs of the vessel, and hastened to visit my affianced bride, whom
I found more lovely than ever. Thanks to M. Morrel, all the forms were got
over; in a word I was, as I told you, at my marriage-feast; and I should
have been married in an hour, and to-morrow I intended to start for Paris,
had I not been arrested on this charge which you as well as I now see to
be unjust." "Ah,"
said Villefort, "this seems to me the truth. If you have been
culpable, it was imprudence, and this imprudence was in obedience to the
orders of your captain. Give up this letter you have brought from Elba,
and pass your word you will appear should you be required, and go and
rejoin your friends. "I
am free, then, sir?" cried Dantииs joyfully. "Yes;
but first give me this letter." "You
have it already, for it was taken from me with some others which I see in
that packet." "Stop
a moment," said the deputy, as Dantииs took his hat and gloves. "To whom is it
addressed?" "To
Monsieur Noirtier, Rue Coq-Hижron,
Paris." Had a thunderbolt fallen into the room, Villefort could not
have been more stupefied. He sank into his seat, and hastily turning over
the packet, drew forth the fatal letter, at which he glanced with an
expression of terror. "M.
Noirtier, Rue Coq-Hижron,
No. 13," murmured he, growing still paler. "Yes,"
said Dantииs;
"do you know him?" "No,"
replied Villefort; "a faithful servant of the king does not know
conspirators." "It
is a conspiracy, then?" asked Dantииs, who after believing himself free, now began to
feel a tenfold alarm. "I have, however, already told you, sir, I was
entirely ignorant of the contents of the letter." "Yes;
but you knew the name of the person to whom it was addressed," said
Villefort. "I
was forced to read the address to know to whom to give it." "Have
you shown this letter to any one?" asked Villefort, becoming still
more pale. "To
no one, on my honor." "Everybody
is ignorant that you are the bearer of a letter from the Island of Elba,
and addressed to M. Noirtier?" "Everybody,
except the person who gave it to me." "And
that was too much, far too much," murmured Villefort. Villefort's
brow darkened more and more, his white lips and clinched teeth filled Dantииs with apprehension. After
reading the letter, Villefort covered his face with his hands. "Oh,"
said Dantииs
timidly, "what is the matter?" Villefort made no answer, but
raised his head at the expiration of a few seconds, and again perused the
letter. "And
you say that you are ignorant of the contents of this letter?" "I
give you my word of honor, sir," said Dantииs; "but what is the matter? You are ill--shall
I ring for assistance?--shall I call?" "No,"
said Villefort, rising hastily; "stay where you are. It is for me to
give orders here, and not you." "Monsieur,"
replied Dantииs
proudly, "it was only to summon assistance for you." "I
want none; it was a temporary indisposition. Attend to yourself; answer
me." Dantииs
waited, expecting a question, but in vain. Villefort fell back on his
chair, passed his hand over his brow, moist with perspiration, and, for
the third time, read the letter. "Oh,
if he knows the contents of this!" murmured he, "and that
Noirtier is the father of Villefort, I am lost!" And he fixed his
eyes upon Edmond as if he would have penetrated his thoughts. "Oh,
it is impossible to doubt it," cried he, suddenly. "In
heaven's name!" cried the unhappy young man, "if you doubt me,
question me; I will answer you." Villefort made a violent effort, and
in a tone he strove to render firm,-- "Sir,"
said he, "I am no longer able, as I had hoped, to restore you
immediately to liberty; before doing so, I must consult the trial justice;
what my own feeling is you already know." "Oh,
monsieur," cried Dantииs,
"you have been rather a friend than a judge." "Well,
I must detain you some time longer, but I will strive to make it as short
as possible. The principal charge against you is this letter, and you
see"--Villefort approached the fire, cast it in, and waited until it
was entirely consumed. "You
see, I destroy it?" "Oh,"
exclaimed Dantииs,
"you are goodness itself." "Listen,"
continued Villefort; "you can now have confidence in me after what I
have done." "Oh,
command, and I will obey." "Listen;
this is not a command, but advice I give you." "Speak,
and I will follow your advice." "I
shall detain you until this evening in the Palais de Justice. Should any
one else interrogate you, say to him what you have said to me, but do not
breathe a word of this letter." "I
promise." It was Villefort who seemed to entreat, and the prisoner
who reassured him. "You
see," continued he, glancing toward the grate, where fragments of
burnt paper fluttered in the flames, "the letter is destroyed; you
and I alone know of its existence; should you, therefore, be questioned,
deny all knowledge of it--deny it boldly, and you are saved." "Be
satisfied; I will deny it." "It
was the only letter you had?" "It
was." "Swear
it." "I
swear it." Villefort
rang. A police agent entered. Villefort whispered some words in his ear,
to which the officer replied by a motion of his head. "Follow
him," said Villefort to Dantииs. Dantииs saluted Villefort and retired. Hardly had the door
closed when Villefort threw himself half-fainting into a chair. "Alas,
alas," murmured he, "if the procureur himself had been at
Marseilles I should have been ruined. This accursed letter would have
destroyed all my hopes. Oh, my father, must your past career always
interfere with my successes?" Suddenly a light passed over his face,
a smile played round his set mouth, and his haggard eyes were fixed in
thought. "This
will do," said he, "and from this letter, which might have
ruined me, I will make my fortune. Now to the work I have in hand."
And after having assured himself that the prisoner was gone, the deputy
procureur hastened to the house of his betrothed. |
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